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Period: Jan 1, 1492 to
US History: VHS Summer: Greg Szumel
The Americas as we see them today were'nt formed overnight. The history of the formation of the US took some time. -
Jamestown is Founded
Jamestown was the first permanent settlement by the British in the Americas. The pioneers for England, the settlers didn't know what the new land would be like. They hoped to profit off of gold in the region, but instead they began to produce tobacco as a cash crop. The colonists had to maintain a "Work or starve" mentality after tough winters and after only 38 of the 144 original colonists survived. Jamestown served as the model. Source http://www.historyisfun.org/history-jamestown.htm -
Slavery in the US
Slavery- the state of being property of someone else and forced to do their bidding. In the US, this was predominantly in African Americans. http://www.understandingrace.org/history/gov/expan_slavery.html -
The Boston Massacre
The first main propoganda the colonists could use against England. After a group of patriots began throwing stones, the British open fired on colonial civilians, killing a fewand injuring many. This was the just adding to the tension between the groups. The Colonists now wanted revenge on the British, and now the patriots had a way to gain sympathy from the undecided colonists. This was the tension between the two groups finally symbolized. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/massacre -
The US Claims Independence
On this day the US claimed Independence from Britain. The colonies all sent their representatives to a Continental Congress to set their voices be heard to the King of England. The US stated that they were unhappy with the way how England had been abusing them, as well as to gain from sympathy from other countries. Source http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/american-colonies-declare-independence -
The Articles of Confederation
http://www.barefootsworld.net/aoc1777.html
The Articles of Confederation were the starting point for the US we know today. They were the first effort against a monarchy system that would oppress everyone else. The federal government had very little power, and intsead the local governmets were given the power. The Articles were the reason the Constitution was created after it had failed to work. -
The British Surrender
General Cornwalis is forced to surender his troops after he is surrounded by American and French infantry and ships afte a five day siege. After a run that had seemed to be unstappable, Cornwalis was attempting to resupply when his ship were forced to abandon him. This left the majority of the British surrounded. After their surrender England was essentially forced to surrender. This was the lethal blow to England in the war. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/yorktown.htm -
The Contitution is Ratified
One of the most important things to happen in the US, the creation and ratification of the US Constitution. The 'living document' is still in use to this very day, and it is still deciding if saws are legal are not. Over the many years th document has been active, it has been the basis of similar Constitutions around the world. The Constitution not only shaped our country, but it also helped found many other countries around the world.
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html -
Federalism
Federalism- a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs, where power is shared between local and federal governments. http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_fedr.html -
Slater Textile Mill
The first industry is built in the United States. The first mills will be put into service later, increasing the productivity of spinning cotton and producing cloth much faster than was possible by hand. This also brought the cotton bloom into existance, because the demand for cotton grew incredibly. This was the beginning of the industrial revolution where machines began to replace hand labor.
http://www.woonsocket.org/histsite.htm -
Cotton Gin Invented
For the time before, slavery was looked down upon by most Southerners. That all changed once the cotton gin was created by Eli Whitney. The cotton seeds were now easily extracted from the raw cotton, and increased the output of cotton. And with the first textile mills in buisiness, the demand for cotton was growing and the price was skyrocketing. The south was again dependent on slavery in order to maximize profits.
http://www.essortment.com/history-cotton-gin-21220.html -
The Missouri Compromise
One of the early compromises to the slave vs free states. This compromise that Henry Clay sponsored stated two main things. Missouri wanted to become a state, but wanted to be admitted as a slave state. But of course this would create more slave states than free states, so Maine was also admitted as a state. Also, No new states North of Missouri's Southern border were to be slave states. http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Missouri.html -
Jackson Elected
Jackson was a Revolutionary president. He demonstrated the power of the President that no one thought the title held. He fought for the good of the Common man, and used his veto power to the best of his ability to stop anything he didn’t like. Of course, Jackson displaced many Natives very cruelly. To some, Jackson was more of a king. Jackson put much more leadership into the role of president than previous. http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjackson -
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny-
Manifest Destiny is a term for the attitude prevalent during the 19th century period of American expansion that the United States not only could, but was destined to, stretch from coast to coast. http://www.history.com/topics/manifest-destiny -
Compromise of 1850
The abolitionists and the slaveowners could not decide how to proceed with the formation of the new states. The results included splitting te amount of slave states and free states in half, California being free and the Utah and New Mexico territories would be decided by the people, and the Fugitive Slave act would be accepted. The negotiations for these states were getting tighter and tighter, and tensions were growing in the government.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html -
Uncle Toms Cabin Published
Uncle Toms Cabin was easily one of the more powerful books published for the abolitioners' cause. The book highlighted on many of the many atrocities slavery caused. Some claim it was the tipping point that caused the civil war. The book brought to light the inhumane actions slaveowners did, like splitting up families, the working conditions of the slaves, and the tragic escape stories.
http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/utc/impact.shtml -
Abraham Lincoln Elected.
The Northerners had won th elections, and the South wa outraged. In the years to come, Lincoln would be faced with a massive war that would tear the country at the seams. Of course this was all to create one of the bigget changes the country had ever seen. He would issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which, in essence, would free all slaves in slave states. He would be assassinated shortly after the truce. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/abraham-lincoln-elected-president -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union after fears that slavery would be outlawed. The state claimed that they no longer wanted to be subject to the Federal governments laws. This was just the start of a number of secedings that would soon follow, including Texas, Florida, Georgia, and many others. To Abraham Lincoln, seceding was completely unconstitutional, and he would attempt to keep the Union united. http://ricochet.com/main-feed/The-Secession-of-South-Carolina -
Radical Republicans to Power
The Radical Republicans came to power after the Civi war wa over. They tied topunish the South for seceeding and creating a war. They introduced mny different acts, some that calld for the militarization of the South into five districts. They also butted heads with the President, and tried to get him impeached and nearly suceeded.
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h127.html -
14th Amendment Ratified
The Fourteenth Amendment was a huge step forward after the war in America. First, it denied slavery to any of the states, and if a state allowed it they would lose representation. It also made it impossible for ex-confederates to take office. The North is now fully in control of the South, and most importantly, slavery now no longer gives an advantage. http://americanhistory.about.com/od/usconstitution/a/14th-Amendment-Summary.htm -
American Identity
American Identity- An ever changing definition of how Americans see themselves based on what they have been through. http://thefutureofamericandemocracyfoundation.org/Project3.html -
Melting Pot
Mesting Pot- A place where many different cultures, religions, nationalities, and people live together and mix. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4931534.stm
